Comments for The Humble Nailbanger

Comment on Theatrical Logic by IB1 Theatre » Theatre Term definitions. by JAIME!

IB1 Theatre » Theatre Term definitions. by JAIME! — Fri, 07 May 2010 01:38:45 +0000

[...] http://humblenailbanger.com/WordPress/?p=72 [...]

Comment on And so… by One NYC StageHand

One NYC StageHand — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 20:21:10 +0000

Welcome back. I know what you mean about being on the bounce. A lot of good people are these days, through no fault of their own.
Find time to write. You’re good at it.

Comment on Life in the dark by Breaking Murphy’s Law » Blog Archive » The Weekly Might Have Missed List (10/05/08)

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 02:47:24 +0000

[...] Humble Nailbanger: Life in the dark — “Never before, however, have I done what I did the other day, which was make it all [...]

Comment on Stagehands vs Housewives by Backstage at BackstageJobs.com » Blog Archive » Quote of the day

Backstage at BackstageJobs.com » Blog Archive » Quote of the day — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:40:45 +0000

[...] The Humble Nailbanger, in his first post in a long time. As always, a great [...]

Comment on Bad stagehand. by Small Apothecary Jars

Small Apothecary Jars — Mon, 19 May 2008 19:55:29 +0000

Small Apothecary Jars…

I found your site on technorati and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. I just added your RSS feed to my Google News Reader. Looking forward to reading more from you….

Comment on The underside of the wing. by Nailbanger

Nailbanger — Sun, 04 May 2008 18:23:27 +0000

That’s a great little story. I myself have tracked down – years later – guys at loadins who showed me vital things, just to say thanks.

It’s interesting how widely the reaction to “noobs” can vary, from welcoming and ready with info to utter disdain….

But you’re very right – it’s important to teach whenever possible.

Comment on The underside of the wing. by quest1962

quest1962 — Sun, 04 May 2008 02:45:26 +0000

I have been very fortunate to have been on both sides of this discussion. I’ve been mentored, but this post is about a moment I had a month or so ago.

I was working for a friend, who had been an apprentice under me in the quasi-distant past. While she showed me around the venue, we ran into some of the other crew members. No small surprise that I knew some of them.

An an hour or so into the call, my friend tells me that one of the guys in carps wanted to talk to me. Hmmmmm. One’s mind goes all over the place in the time until coffee.

During the break, he finds me. I recognize him, but not when or where from. He knows EXACTLY. I know the call he recalls, as I only worked at that theatre once. This guy wanted to thank me. For what? That was years ago. You taught me how to tie a bowline, he says.

We were hanging a piece, and needed several guys to do so. We had to tie it to a pipe, and he didn’t know a basic knot. Instead of the too-often “gimme that, I’ll do it” that many guys will give, I showed him how.

It doesn’t take much, teaching people how to do something they want to learn. As an assistant at at theatre, I remember a load-in that involved a bunch of new blood. In three days, I taught four people how to tie a clove hitch. One had some trouble at first. She was a lefty, and I am not. She was trying to undo it in her mind. I asked her why she hadn’t told me she was a lefty, so I could show her “her” way.

She was surprised, but that is how it should be. Teach, and there will be fewer shoes and fewer boxes of rocks around.

Comment on Stagehand Primer by heavymarbledog

heavymarbledog — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 01:04:42 +0000

A comment and a question
I’ve worked with Mick for years now. He’s GREAT to work with. Also taught me a sizable chunk of my apprenticeship base knowledge on the job-site. And was one of the only Sr. hands willing give me an answer to the question “why?” in almost every instance. I want to mention this is appreciated coming from a once young lad who knew nothing about theater.
On to the question. Have you ever rigged with a guy that attracts “Murphy” in increased yet solvable amounts? This might sound a bit strange, but working with a guy who has so much stagecraft knowledge seems to attract challenges from the spirit of Murphy’s law. Have you ever noticed such phenomena? Not to say it was ever less safe, just a welcomed bombardment of challenges.
Sam

Comment on Theater as haven for ne’er do wells. by On Stage Lighting

On Stage Lighting — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 18:12:55 +0000

Good thoughts.

I have always loved working backstage exactly because the business is made up of individuals and misfits – but ne’er do wells? Never.

And as for lazy. The theatre has the least lazy people per hundred that I know. We are just not very good at making the fuss that give the illusion of hard work and productivity. That’s the territory of others who are better at self promotion (not a desirable attribute in backstage work).

Surely the mark of someone who is good at their job is their apparent lack of effort.

Best wishes

Rob

Comment on Theatrical Logic by Prom Disc Jockey

Prom Disc Jockey — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:35:12 +0000

Prom Disc Jockey…

I Wish I had time to keep up with my own blog like you do. Love it….